Calibrachoa plant named &#39;Incalmiabe&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘INCALMIABE’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; apricot pink-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INCALMIABE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa caesia×Calibrachoa hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘INCALMIABE’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Calibrachoa plants that flower early and freely with unique and attractive flower coloration and heat tolerance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Heidesheim, Germany in January 2010 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI28’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,847, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca10-1098-7, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘INCALMIABE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘INCALMIABE’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to         eventually trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Apricot pink-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘USCALI28’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI28’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1 Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         ‘USCALI28’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI28’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘USCALI28’ have ruby red-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL66501’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,942. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCAL66501’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants         of ‘USCAL66501’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘USCAL66501’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCAL66501’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘USCAL66501’ had coral red-colored         flowers with greyed purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI411-12’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,753. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘USCALI411-12’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants         of ‘USCALI411-12’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI411-12’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘USCALI411-12’ had scarlet red-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INCALMIABE’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INCALMIABE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa caesia×Calibrachoa hybrida     ‘INCALMIABE’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL128’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,847.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa hybrida identified as code number Ca10-1098-7,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at day             temperatures about 29° C. and night temperatures about 17°             C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at day             temperatures about 21° C. and night temperatures about 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at day             temperatures about 29° C. and night temperatures about 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at day             temperatures about 21° C. and night temperatures about 17°             C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit;             freely branching habit with about five primary lateral             branches each with about four secondary branches; pinching             enhances branching; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 12.4 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             eventually trailing.         -   Texture.—Pubescent; minute.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; minute.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A;             venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color, upper surface: Close to             146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about two to three open flowers per lateral branch             and more than 70 flower buds and open flowers per plant at a             time; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about four weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the early spring though the summer             until the autumn in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant depending on ambient temperature; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Color: Close to 160D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm by 2.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals in a single whorl             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded, slightly and             shallowly emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal texture,             lower surface: Pubescent; minute and primarily along the             veins. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent; minute and primarily along the veins. Petal             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Throat luster:             Slightly shiny. Tube luster: Matte. Color: Petal lobe, when             opening, upper surface: Close to N170C to N170D. Petal lobe,             when opening, lower surface: Close to 160D. Petal lobe,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 51A to 51B; towards             the throat, narrow band, about 1 mm in width, close to 46A;             main veins, close to 47A; lateral venation, close to 51A to             51B; with development, color becoming closer to 185D. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 54C; main veins,             close to 185B; lateral venation, close to 54D. Throat: Close             to 9A; venation, close to 183C. Tube: Close to 11C;             venation, close to 183D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Sepal length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm.             Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent;             minute. Sepal color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Sepal             color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent; minute. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:             Close to 8B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             8A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.             Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary             color: Close to 145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘INCALMIABE’ as illustrated and described. 